What is involved?

In business, commercial disputes are a fact of life. The key is to take control and drive any dispute to a solution that meets your commercial objectives.

Our message is simple: we have deep expertise and insight, and will have “been there before”. With a national team of 54 commercial dispute management partners and lawyers, we have both the strength in depth and experience to manage your disputes quickly and cost effectively. We will work with you closely to understand quickly what the challenges are that you face and to devise a strategy to ensure the best commercial outcomes for you as a business.

Why choose Freeths?

We have experience of every aspect of commercial disputes, both in the UK and internationally, including all of the areas listed below.

"Once again, thank you. You [Simon Hobbs] and Farheen have been a huge support throughout this wretched matter. I am exceedingly grateful for your calm, professional and wise counsel from the outset and to the finality of last night. On balance, I got pretty much what I had hoped for so as far as I am concerned, we have achieved success."

(Ptarmigan Limited)

"Philippa is regarded as a Leader in the field of Dispute Resolution by Chambers and Business Experts. Sources say the ‘absolutely excellent’ Philippa Dempster provides an ‘amazing service for her clients’."

"Thank you for your efforts this week. In a world where law firms experience bad press and excellent customer service is rare, it is refreshing to see an organisation that is proactive and able to exceed expectations; you have clearly managed both."

(Managing Director/Owner of Winston Joinery Group)

"I have worked with Graham for many years in all aspects of insolvency work. His advice is always commercial and to the point."

(Philip Lyon (Partner), Mazars LLP)

"Simon Hobbs (Band 2 Thames Valley) maintains his reputation as a 'serious player' in the market. He is described by clients as 'technically very sound' and 'quick to grasp issues'. He focuses on shareholder, professional negligence, contract and IP-related litigation."

(Chambers & Partners, 2016)

"At Freeths, managing partner Mukesh Patel leads the commercial litigation practice, which continues to act for national and international clients in a wide range of mandates, including construction, insurance, and financial services disputes, as well as property litigation and insolvency litigation."

(The Legal 500, 2017)

"Having engaged the services of Richard Coates and his team over the past 30 months to support me with a number of commercial legacy issues I inherited I can highly recommend him. He is not only fiercely strategic and crucially proactive but also objective and pragmatic. He is without doubt the solicitor you should have on your team."

"James Driver of Freeths LLP is a construction litigator with experience of handling disputes on behalf of major developers, contractors and banks, among other clients. Sources attest to Driver's ‘excellent commercial awareness’."

(Chambers & Partners)

"‘Phenomenal in every respect’, Freeths LLP has ‘a strong and respected presence in the East Midlands’, fielding a ‘close-knit team’ that impresses with its ‘outstanding depth of knowledge’. The group is ‘very well-regarded in insolvency matters’".

(The Legal 500, 2019)

"Charles Powell has a strong mediation practice which centres on partnership, professional negligence, banking and other commercial claims. One market source states: 'He is very professional, approachable and personable. He is hands-on and pushes in the right direction.' He is often instructed on particularly contentious matters where relations between parties are acrimonious."

Successfully defended Eurobet UK Ltd in a claim in the High Court for £650k, made by an on-line Italian gambler. The large win by this gambler was the result of a software ‘bug’. The case, which was widely reported in both the national and international media, made The Telegraph’s Top 10 biggest computer failure cases that year.

Acting for Philips Electronics and Philips Pension Trustees in bringing £300 million claims against Aon Hewitt and AllianceBernstein, for the negligent design and implementation of the pension fund’s investment strategy in 2007. The claim follows on from an earlier claim for £100 million, which Louise acted on against Hewitt in relation to actuarial negligence, which settled successfully following a second mediation.

Defending a substantial claim issued in the High Court in London relating to the supply of defective fabric by a Turkish company. The case involved a complex paper trail and issues such as security for costs. We had to adopt a robust defence and pursue security for costs, because the claim was spurious and because of its impact on a family run business with many High Street retailers.

Acting for multiple claimants in a shareholders’ dispute involving a detailed analysis of director’s fiduciary duties in relation to 40% of the equity (with an estimated value of £80 million) in a maritime engineering and naval architecture company in the High Court’s Chancery Division. The case settled on very favourable terms to our clients.

Currently advising several hundred Sub-postmasters in a High Court Group Action against Post Office Ltd in relation to the Horizon accounting software.

Acted for Developer threatened with suspension and termination by Design & Build Contractor in works relating to the refurbishment of office premises to residential use. Contractor in delay, fire safety issues to be resolved. Contractor claimed over £2 million. Developer client could not afford to terminate Contractor, however strong the case, because of the longstop date exposure to funders. Dispute resolved by contract variation on “nuisance” terms within 26 days of instruction.

Mediated in a dispute concerning breach of fiduciary duty against the First Defendant; a debt claim against the Second Defendant and a Petition for relief under s.994 of the Companies Act 2006. The issues in the matter were complex but we were able to achieve a settlement on the day of the mediation.

Acting for a Nigerian oil corporation in ICC proceedings involving complex jurisdictional and res judicata issues. This involved successfully convincing the Tribunal to find that no jurisdiction existed for the Claimant to bring the claim, bringing the international and domestic arbitration actions issued against her client to an early conclusion.

Stay connected

Freeths LLP (registered in England and Wales OC304688) is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (number 384855). Our registered office is Cumberland Court, 80 Mount Street, Nottingham, NG1 6HH. The term ‘partner’ is used to refer to a member of the partnership or to an employee of equivalent standing and qualifications. Freeths LLP provides its services subject to its Terms of Business (a hard copy of which is available on request). Any complaints should be addressed through the procedure outlined here.